Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Graduates of the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program will be prepared for professional counseling positions in the mental health and substance abuse fields. The program is specifically designed for graduates of the program to be eligible for candidacy for licensing as a Mental Health Counselor in the State of Florida. Students in the program will begin to develop their professional identity with a strong awareness of professional ethics, and a Master’s Degree level knowledge base and skill set in order to work with individuals, families, groups and the community at large.

While some courses in the program may be offered online, there are courses required to complete the degree that are only available on campus.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Graduates Are Prepared To:

Apply for Licensing as a Mental Health Counselor in the State of Florida

Seek Employment in Professional Counseling Positions

Help Clients Work Through Difficult Life Situations

Work With Individuals, Families, Couples, and Groups

Choose to Work With Specific Populations, i.e., Elderly, Students, or Children

Why Mental Health Counseling?

Is Mental Health Counseling Right For Me?

What is professional counseling?

Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.*

Source: http://www.cacrep.org/detail/students.cfm 12-10-2013

Strong and Diverse Career Outlook

Counseling is a rewarding profession that is growing rapidly. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of mental health counselors is expected to grow by 36 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations.*

A counseling career offers choices. Professionals may decide to work with specific populations, such as young children, teens, or adults. Other counselors may choose to work in certain settings, such as education, private practice, or mental health centers.

Do the Following Statements Apply to You?

I enjoy variety and a challenging work environment.

I have a desire to improve the community and its members.

I gain satisfaction in my life from helping others.

I want a career in which I will help make a positive difference in people's lives.

I enjoy sorting out, understanding and addressing complex challenges.

My career goals include professional
licensure and a career in counseling.

If so, a Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling may be the degree to help you succeed in your career!

Careers

What is the Mental Health Counselor Career Outlook?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of mental health counselors is expected to grow by 36 percent and employment of marriage and family therapists is expected to grow by 41 percent from 2010 to 2020, both much faster than the average for all occupations. Growth is expected as the overall population grows and as insurance companies increasingly provide for reimbursement of counselors and marriage and family therapists as a less costly alternative to psychiatrists and psychologists.*

Mental Health Counseling Offers Diverse Job Opportunities

Students wishing to compete in the Southwest Florida job market with a clinical mental health counseling degree need to prepare a knowledge and skill set for work with diverse client, family and community populations in the areas of Inpatient, Residential, Intensive Outpatient and Outpatient treatment for both mental health and substance issues separately or concurrently. A student also may find employment in career counseling and life coaching arenas, among other opportunities.

A student in this area may practice at public agencies, local sites for larger non-profit agencies, public and private hospital facilities, smaller non-profit agencies, and private organization and practice settings. Future trends may include more practice in medical settings, increased use of online counseling, and the use of evidence based treatment for certain populations and conditions. While the student might eventually specialize their focus, a comprehensive understanding of individual, group and family counseling, as well as prevention and community work is crucial in the education process.

SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

Elderly

Young Children

Teens

Adults

College Age Students

Employee Assistance

FACILITIES

Hospitals

Residential Treatment Centers

Outpatient Treatment Centers

State Government

Private Practice

Colleges

Substance Abuse Centers

Local Government

Curriculum

What Will I Learn?

Students attending part-time, 6 credit hours or 2 courses per term will complete the program in 10 terms, or just over three years.

Hover over the course names below to view course descriptions.

State Licensing Content Component

Semester Hour Credit

PSY5000

Counseling Theories and Practice

PSY5000 - Counseling Theories and Practice - 3 Credits

This course will cover the major counseling theories from Freud to the shorter term therapies prevalent today. Emphasis will be placed on the important tenets driving each theory, and how to put those to practical use. Students will be encouraged to identify the theories they are most comfortable with. The value of an eclectic theory base will be discussed.

3

PSY5004

Human Growth and Development

PSY5004 - Human Growth and Development - 3 Credits

The focus of this course will be on human biopsychosocial development and change through the passages of life. There will be a focus on how this information applies to assessment and counseling throughout the lifespan. The developmental needs of each stage and community resources that can support these needs will be discussed. Applications to practice with children, adolescents, adults and older adults will be emphasized.

3

PSY5400

Diagnosis and Treatment of Psychopathology

PSY5400 - Diagnosis and Treatment of Psychopathology - 3 Credits

This course reviews current standards of diagnostic categorization and treatment options for each diagnosis. Students will use critical thinking in order to identify the differential diagnosis from the assessment data. Treatment options will be considered based upon effectiveness for that condition. Correct use of diagnosis requiring a split approach of use of diagnosis with professionals but reframing positively for clients will be discussed.

3

PSY5020

Group Theories and Practice

PSY5020 - Group Theories and Practice - 3 Credits

This course is designed to give students an understanding of the role of theories in group counseling and the many process applications of groups with a variety of diverse populations and age groups. Emphasis will be placed on practical knowledge and techniques for effective group leadership. Both basic and advanced leadership skills for planning and implementing a group as well as specific strategies and skills for each stage of the group process will be covered.

3

PSY5001

Individual Evaluation and Assessment

PSY5001 - Individual Evaluation and Assessment - 3 Credits

The course provides general information about assessment, including basic concepts, ethical and legal implications, and test construction, as well as the selection, administration, scoring, and interpretation of assessment instruments. A comprehensive exploration of the major areas of assessment will be incorporated. The role of clinical assessment as the main summary of all assessment will be emphasized. Tests and inventories in the areas of clinical, personality, behavioral, intelligence, aptitude, achievement, career, and couples and family assessment will be studied.

3

PSY5030

Career and Lifestyle Assessment

PSY5030 - Career and Lifestyle Assessment - 3 Credits

This course surveys the major theories of career development as well as standardized methods of assessing vocational interests and aptitudes. Practical application of concepts will be emphasized. Career counseling in educational settings, work settings, and career transitions throughout life will be examined. Emphasis will be placed on individual and group career counseling skills across diverse populations and focus on balancing all life roles in an ever changing world.

3

PSY5500

Research and Program Evaluation

PSY5500 - Research and Program Evaluation - 3 Credits

The focus of this course is to provide practical skills evaluation research that focuses on intervention results and improvements. Basic statistics, research designs, research ethics, and program evaluation within the human services field is examined. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods will be explored. It also provides experience in performing data analysis. The emphasis will be on continuously improving practitioner and agency practice.

This course addresses the needs and issues relevant to working with clients from diverse racial and ethnic groups. Diversity within these groups in the context of the counseling relationship as well as an understanding of ethnic psychology will be explored. Basic principles, sensitivities, and knowledge that will lay a foundation for becoming a culturally competent professional will be examined.

3

PSY5300

Counseling in Community Settings

PSY5300 - Counseling in Community Settings - 3 Credits

This course will provide an overview of the many facets of community counseling. A brief history, philosophy, current trends, professional identity, counseling in various settings, and ethical and legal issues in practice are explored. Focus will also be on the importance of self-awareness in becoming a successful community counselor through experiential learning.

This course will focus on the history of substance abuse in our society, how it is defined, perceived, and accommodated. The various methods of prevention will be examined from a medical, psychological and social perspective. Student will conduct a case study using one of these methods to determine the efficacy of each.

Standards for professional conduct in counseling are the focus of this course. Ethical and legal decisions that mental health counselors must make are explored. Professional issues in counseling from both an ethical and a legal point-of-view are examined. Difficult issues will be addressed and practical, realistic advice will be given through vignettes that showcase typical situations and dilemmas faced by practicing counselors.

Prerequisite: PSY5000

3

PSY6302

Human Sexuality

PSY6302 - Human Sexuality - 3 Credits

This course presents an investigation of sexuality within the larger context of the human experience. Emphasis is placed on the study of human sexual development, dimensions of sexual behavior, sex education, health issues, sexually transmitted diseases, and ethical and legal aspects of sexuality.

3

PSY6001

Professional Portfolio

PSY6001 - Professional Portfolio - 0 Credits

In this course students will produce a professional electronic portfolio that demonstrated their mastery of Hodges University’s core competencies of Critical Thinking, Effective Communications, Initiative, Leadership Ability and Research Ability. Students are required to take this course in their last semester with the University and must complete this course in order to graduate.

0

Total State Licensing Content Component

36

Internship Component

Semester Hour Credit

PSY5999

Practicum 200 Hours

PSY5999 - Practicum 200 Hours - 3 Credits

Min. 40 clock hours direct / 45 hours of Hodges group supervision

3

PSY6501

Internship Level 1 (267 Hours)

PSY6501 - Internship Level 1 (267 Hours) - 4 Credits

Min. 80 clock hours direct / 45 hours Hodges group supervision

4

PSY6502

Internship Level 2 (267 Hours)

PSY6502 - Internship Level 2 (267 Hours) - 4 Credits

Min. 80 clock hours direct / 45 hours Hodges group supervision

4

PSY6503

Internship Level 3 (267 Hours)

PSY6503 - Internship Level 3 (267 Hours) - 3 Credits

Min. 80 clock hours direct / 45 hours Hodges group supervision

4

Total Internship Component

15

Elective Component

Students will select three elective courses from the choices below:

PSY6010

Family Treatment

PSY6010 - Family Treatment - 3 Credits

This advanced level course will provide students with a working knowledge of the methods of discovery along with actual document creation and practice of interrogatories, discovery, and other steps taken to obtain information for mediation and trial.

3

PSY6100

Strength Based Assessment and Counseling

PSY6100 - Strength Based Assessment and Counseling - 3 Credits

Current therapy modalities emphasize shorter term solutions and therapy length. Identification of client strengths, and use of the principle of Occam’s Razor both shorten the time necessary to assist a client to find solutions. This course will emphasize finding “solution talk” instead of “problem talk”, and will assist the student to find ways to creatively and credibly identify client strengths. Work with client emotions and behaviors will be emphasized also.

3

PSY6401

Advanced Addiction Treatment Methodologies

PSY6401 - Advanced Addiction Treatment Methodologies - 3 Credits

Substance abuse therapy theory and technique has gone through a revolution of change, with Motivational Enhancement and Cognitive therapies demonstrating research based effectiveness along with 12 Step Enhancement and Harm Reduction methodologies. Also the increasing role of Pharmacotherapy and the essential nature of including Family Treatment methodologies in Substance Abuse treatment will be reviewed.

Prerequisite: PSY6301

3

PSY6500

Direct Supervision and Administration

PSY6500 - Direct Supervision and Administration - 3 Credits

Supervision of therapists requires a new skill set and knowledge base due to the far reaching ramifications of supporting other therapists clinically. Models of supervision will be explored, and the significance of differing levels of expertness between supervisor and supervisee will be reviewed. Supervision within an agency structure considering all attendant ethical and liability concerns will be covered at length.

Prerequisites: PSY5000, PSY6000

3

PSY6020

Group Therapy

PSY6020 - Group Therapy - 3 Credits

This course will explore the therapeutic factors of group therapy such as group cohesiveness, experiential learning, and transference work. Methods for design of the group and the formation of group rules and a trusting atmosphere will be explored. Issues in the formation of specific types of groups will be analyzed, and strategies for working with certain types of “problem” clients in groups will be presented.

Prerequisite: PSY5020

3

PSY6004

Child Therapy

PSY6004 - Child Therapy - 3 Credits

Work with children and adolescents demands a specialized knowledge base and skill set. Problems of childhood and adolescence will be studied, and counseling techniques geared to the developmental level of the child will be outlined. Special emphasis will also be place on the engagement of parents in their child’s therapy to avoid falling into the “identified patient” trap. Cultural factors in children and adolescent therapy will be stressed.

Prerequisite: PSY5004

3

Total Elective Component

9

Total Semester Hours for Graduation

60

Benefits

How is Hodges' Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Different?

Our Program is Accredited

Graduates Prepared for Licensing in Florida

Graduates of Hodges Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program are eligible for candidacy for licensing as a Mental Health Counselor in the State of Florida.

Our Program

Our population of students excel in the qualities of having the personality and skills of a "helper". They come from many different countries and backgrounds with varied education preparation and experiences. The personality and skills of a "helper" are further and professionally developed through our emphasis on role play, practical learning and personal growth. Our students have the prerequisite skills and heart but benefit from the added education, practicum and internship experience to hone and advance their skills.

Our program also offers much more individual attention and recognition of the working adult with all the issues that come with these added responsibilities. We offer flexibility and will work with students to facilitate their reaching their goals. The student becomes our priority and we not only say this, we practice it.

Our Faculty

Clinical Mental Health Counseling faculty are highly experienced and qualified in the field. This real-world, applied knowledge is an invaluable resource for students studying to begin or advance their careers. Our faculty members recognize students as individuals and provide personal attention.

Our Principles

To achieve its mission, the Hodges University Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program supports the following principles:

To develop students’ counseling skills through cognitive, affective and psycho-motor practice informed by professional feedback.

To develop students’ practice identity through exposure to current theory and best practices, and by adopting the theories and practices for which they have an affinity.

To integrate students’ lifelong learning approach with their knowledge base through review of the latest writing and research.

To support students’ continued affective learning by continual personal growth and psycho-motor learning by continual practice and professional feedback.

More Information

Tuition

What Will the Program Cost?

Hodges University tuition continues to be one of the lowest among private institutions in the state of Florida. Basic tuition for all graduate credit hour courses is $660.00 per credit hour.

Additional fees may apply. Books and supplies are not included in tuition. For a complete schedule of Tuition and Fees, see the current Catalog or Graduate Bulletin.

How Does Hodges Help?

Hodges University holds several fundraising events every year that benefit institutional scholarship funds. We also directly contribute an average of approximately two million dollars per year in loan offsetting funds to assist students in achieving their educational goals. Remember that tuition may be reduced by scholarships and grants and financial aid is available.

"Transferring to Hodges University has been one of the BEST decisions that I have made in my life!" - Kelly O'Brien, CMHC Student

Net Price Calculator

*Net price is defined as estimated cost of attendance — including tuition and required fees, books and supplies, room and board (meals), and other related expenses — minus estimated grant and scholarship aid to current and prospective students and their families based on what similar students paid in a previous year.

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Need More Information?

You may also contact us to speak to an admissions coordinator who will guide you through the application and admissions process. To speak to an admissions coordinator call us at 1-800-466-8017 (Naples), 1-800-466-0019 (FM), use our contact form, email admit@hodges.edu or schedule a one-on-one visit to tour one of our campuses.

Your Admissions Coordinator will:

Help you complete the application in its entirety.

Help you obtain necessary transcripts.

Schedule your admissions test (if necessary).

Coordinate the Financial Aid process with a Financial Aid Professional.

Refer you to your Academic Advisor for class scheduling.

Give you information regarding your orientation.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Hodges family!

Mary Nuosce

Program Director
: Master in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

As the field of counseling continues to evolve, our commitment ever increases to develop the counseling knowledge and skills of our Clinical Mental Health Counseling students.